Starting box



g- 1929 E. o. HAMILTO'N' 1,723,779

STARTING BOX Filed Sept. 9, 1927 IN V EN TOR. Ernes/ O Harm/fan.

" ATORNE k UNIT ERNEST o. nainin'ron, or ooL'UMBUs, OHIO.

STARTING BOX.

Application filed September 9, 1927. Serial 1\T0h218,550.

My invention relates to starting boxes and, provide a starting box wherein the disadmore particularly, to starting boxes wherein vantages hereinbefore set forth will be elimracing animals, such as dogs or the like, may inated and wherein the door forming the be placed prior to running a race and from front of the box will be released automati- 60 which the racing animals may be released cally and will be so mounted as to drop out simultaneously fin order that the animals wardly and downwardly when released. may have an equal opportunity of starting .Other objects of my invention may be seen i the race. Y Y .in the following detailed description and the In starting boxes, as they are usually conpreferred embodiment of my invention may 65 structed, a substantially rectangular box is be seen in the accompanying drawings divided up into compartments or stalls by wherein similar characters of reference partitions extending crosswise of the box and designate corresponding parts and wherein: from the top to the bottom thereof. The Figure l is a perspective view of my startrear sidoof the box is formed by individual .ing box in its preferred form. 70 doors, one for each compartment or stall, Figure 2 is a side view of the starting box and the front of the box is formed by a sinshown in Figure 1 but showing the single gle door that is hinged at'its top and swings door forming the front of the box as being outwardly and upwardly in opening. closed and being held in such-closed position A racing animal, is placed in each com- ,byalatch. 75 partment or stall through the hinged doors .Uigure 3 IS a perspectlve view of the rear th t f th ar ard ide of the box and of my starting box showing the individual remains in the box until the signal for the doors through which the dogs are admitted race wb i i vgiven whereupon th ingl into their respective compartments or stalls. door that forms the front of the box islifted Figure 4: is a perspective view, with parts 80 i either manuall or b means of 'sprin s albroken awa showin the latch for holdin y y c 3 '0 lowing the animals to emerge from the box the single front door of the starting box in simultaneously. 7 closed position.

Means have been provided in suchstart- Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 ing boxes whereby each racing animal may designates a starting box that is n'eferably $5 see along the track through glass orbarred Of such shape that the top of the box is openings. Such visibility means has prewlder than the bottom thereof while the viously been at the bottom of the single door height remains equal throughout all parts. i that forms the front of the box which tends The box 1 is divided up into separate comto cause the animals. to, develop into boxpartments or stalls 2 by means of the partifighters in attempting to get out of the tions 3. A door a that is hinged at its botstarting box, Als0, the doors forming the I tom as at 5 extends upwardly and outward rearward side of the box being hinged perly to form the forward side of this box.

mit light and air to filter into the compart- Along the'rearward side of the box sepaments or stalls through the cracks between rate doors 6 are provided for each compart- 40 the doors and box. Frequently the animals ment or stall 2. These doors 6 are preferturn around in the box in search of air and ably constructed in the [manner shown in b ason f seeing light at the rear. of the- Figure 3 wherein flanges 7 on three sides of box. -This sometimes prevents them from the doors 6 cooperate with complemental 1 getting an equal start in the race when the grooves or guideways S in the box. A handoor at the front is opened. I dle 9 on each door provides a means for Another disadvantageous feature of pregrasping the door to raise it and permit the A viously used starting boxes resides in the racing animals to be placed into their refact that, the animals are liable to injure spcctive compartments or stalls. themselves to suchan extent that they have An electrically controlled locking device 50 to be killed since it is a'well knownfact that 10 is disposed on the top of the box 1 and g the animals spring upwardly and outwardly embodies a reciprocating bolt 11. Suitable in emerging from the box. In" springing up-- wires connect the mechanism of the locking wardly there is a liability that the animals device 10 with a battery 12 and a-switch 13 I will strike the door as theyemerge causing as shown in Figure l. A latch 14 that is either minor or serious injury to themselves. held in extended position by means of a The primary object of my invention is to start; it shown Figure ii; is placed.

as to be adapted to be moved into and out of cooperative relation with the reciprocating bolt 11. The latch 14 forms a part of a rod 16 that extends lengthwise across the forward end of the box 1 and is held thereon by means of fastening devices 17 which prevent any movement except rotation of the rod. Springs 18 and 19 provide a means for maintaining the rod 16 normally in the position shown in Figure 1.

In the operation of this device, the doors 6 on the rear of the box are opened by raising and the racing animals are placed into their respective compartments or stalls whereupon the doors 6 are lowered to closed position. It will be apparent by constructing the doors in the manner shown in Figure 3 that there will be no light ,or air filtering into the compartments or stalls from the rearward side. The single door 1 is closed and held in closed position by the arms 20 on the rod 16 as shown in Figure 2 prior to the racing animals being placed into theirrespective compartments or stalls.

A narrow longitudinal slot that is disposed in the upper part of the door st and is covered by a screen or other open work-mabackwardly may terial 22 as shown in Figure 1 permits the animals to see along the track and to have access to air at the same time, being in such position as to practically prevent the dogs or other animals from scratching at the door adjacent such slot. Such construction of the door forming the .front of the box practically eliminates the danger of the animals becoming box-fighters. The bottom of the separate compartments or stalls are preferablycovered with a mat 23 of rubber .or some other suitable material which will permit the animals to spring outwardly from their respective compartments or stalls without slipping. The inner surface of the door 41 may be covered in a similar manner if desired.

It will be understood that the switch 13 which provides a means for completing the circuit between the battery 12 and the electrically operated locking device 10 may be located at any point along the track, for instance in the judges stand. switch 13 is operated to close the circuit between the battery 12 and the electrically operated locking device 10 the reciprocating bolt 1.1 is drawn baclrwardly. The mechanism for drawingythe reciprocating bolt 11 e of any suitable type and no claim is made to such mechanism alone in this application.

As the reciprocating bolt 11 is drawn vided into a plurality of compartments, a

backwardly the latch 14 is released whereupon 1t will assume the position shown in v Figure 1 under the-action of the springs 18 and 19. On the latch let assuming the position shown in Figure 1 the arms 20 on the rod 16 which engage the upper edge of the Vhen this vice embodying numerous novel features and while it is not believed necessary to enumerate all of the advantages a brief reference to some of them may be desirable.

For instance, I have provided a starting box wherein there will be no light or air ontering the various compartments or stalls from the rearward sideof the box. This will minimize the possibility of the racing 7 animals turning around in their respective compartments or stalls in quest of light and air. As a further means for minimizing the possibility of the racing animals turning around in their respective compartments or stalls I have provided a means for admitting light and air into the front of the box and have so placed this means that it will be practically impossible for the animals to reach such light and air admitting space with their forefeet. This willelim'inate to a large extent the dangerof the animals becoming what is commonly known as box-fighters.

A further advantage of my invention is that the door which forms the front of the box extends outwardly and upwardly from the bottom thereof or from the line at which it is hinged to the box. Furthermore, I have provided means for automatically releasing this door and it will be apparent that when released the door will drop out-- wardly and downwardly as a result of gravity although me'ans hastening the opening of the door can be employed if desired. It will be apparent that with the door dropping outwardly and downwardly there will be little or no danger of the racing animals wardly' and outwardly and means for holding said door in upright position.

2. In animal racing apparatus, a box disingle door for the ends of said compartments, a hinged connection between the lower side of said door and the bottom of said box, means for holding said door in upright position, said means comprising an electrically controlled releasing means, and

means for operating said releasing means.

3. In animal racing ap aratus, a box divided into a plurality oi compartments, a single door for the ends of said compartments, a hinged connection between the lower side of said door. and the bottom of said box, means for holding said door in upright position, said means comprising an automatic latching device and electrically controlled means for releasing said latching device said means including a reciprocating bolt.

i. In animal racing apparatus, a starting box comprisinga box-like structure divided into compartments, each provided at its rear with a closing door and having its forward side provided with a single door having an opening along the top thereof, a hinged connection between said door and the bottom of said box like structure, and remotely controlled releasing means for holding said door upright.

5. In animal racing apparatus, a starting box comprising a box-like structure divided into compartments, each provided at its rear with a closing door and having its forward side provided with a single door having an opening near the top thereof, said last named door being so inclined as to move outwardly and downwardly when said holding means is released, a hinged connection between the lower edge of said door and said box-like structure, and remotely controlled releasing means for holding said door upright.

6. In animal racing apparatus, a starting box comprising a box-like structure divided into a plurality of compartments, an individual door for the rear end of each of said compartments, said individual doors having a sliding connection with said box structure, and an upwardly and forwardly inclined single door for the forward ends of said compartments hinged to the bottom of the box and adapted to fall to open position by gravity when released.

7. In animal racing apparatus, a starting box comprising a box like structure having at its forward side an upwardly and outwardly inclined door hinged to the bottom of the box, means for holding said door upright in cluding an arm adapted to engage the top of said door, a spring tending to disengage said arm, and a latch for holding said arm engaged with the door against the tendency of said spring.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

ERNEST O. HAMILTON. 

